Jimmy, of Richardson, Texas, has no pedigree. In fact, the 8-year-old red-haired terrier mix - named after a long-legged and formerly red-haired uncle of McLean's - is a rescue dog.

"He was dumped at a shelter in Wiley, Texas, at about 7 weeks of age because he had ringworm," said McLean, who drove to New York City this week so Jimmy could compete in this weekend's competition.

Unlike other canine competitors - who look like supermodels, primped and poised and purebed - Jimmy has never had a good hair day.

"If I brushed him, his hair would be kind of wavy and he would just shake himself," McLean said.

But Jimmy has talents - he can jump through hoops and race through tunnels. He's visited more than 25 states doing agility competitions. He was the No. 3 mixed-breed dog in the American Kennel Club in 2012 and won a "Top Dog" prize for placing No. 4 in the 16-inch height at the 2013 Agility Invitational Championships in Orlando, Fla.

He's also a registered therapy dog with Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs. At Kellar's Canine Academy in Saddle Brook, N.J., Jimmy showed off his skills recently.

He is now one of 16 mixed-breed dogs hoping to beat the purebreds in the agility contest - it's the equivalent of an Olympic gold medal.

Jodi Kellar, the owner of the academy, said in the agility competition, trainer and dog performed a sort of "choreographed dance."

"Agility is about building a bond and communication with your dog," Kellar said. "It's a very strategic sport."

McLean said that if a mixed-breed dog wins Westminster, it would mean "any dog can do it and just because your dog doesn't have a pedigree, doesn't mean that it's not a canine athlete."